SERRC volunteers teach Beatrice Franklin has won the prestigious "Volunteer of the Year" award from the Alaska Adult Education Association (AAEA). The honor recognizes Franklin's outstanding work with Juneau's immigrant community.
Franklin teaches an English as a Second Language (ESL) class at the University of Alaska every Monday and Wednesday for The Learning Connection, a program of SERRC- Alaska'a Educational Resource Center.
SERRC will present Franklin with the award during one of her classes, on Wednesday, October 16, at 6pm, in the UAS Egan Wing, Room 115. The award was announced at the State Adult Education Conference in Anchorage.
"Beatrice's English language teaching reaches deep into people's lives, to empower and offer necessary life skills," said Adelia Myrick, AAEA Acting Board President.
Over the past four years, more than 40 adult students from 15 countries have passed through Franklin's classroom or worked one-on-one with her. Franklin has volunteered over 800 hours with her students.
"Beatrice is a tremendous asset to Juneau and SERRC. Because of her generosity and dedication, our center can offer classes in three different location and provide English languag classes four nights a week," said Sheryl Weinber, SERRC Executive Drector. "We are grateful to her for sharing her time and skills."
With classroom and individual instruction, Franklin helps eliminate barriers for immigrants in Juneau and makes the English lanugage more accesible to them. Many of her students have found or improved their work situation in Juneau because of her help increasing their confidence in their English language speaking and writing abilities.
One of Franklin's students wrote, "When I started with Beatrice, I could not write anything. Anything! Now I feel much more comfortable. My sister and I so appreciate her help- she's really amazing."
SERRC has offered top-notch adult education and employment services in Southeast Alaska since the early 1980s. Last year, SERRC's ESL teacher won the AAEA Adult Education of the Year Award. SERRC's current adult education schedule is available online.